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26/04/2017

There aren’t too many games set during the French Revolution which sets this game apart from others of its ilk, it is also a port of a mobile game and although the stripped back gameplay does show its mobile roots, lovers of stealth puzzle games shouldn’t be put off as this is a solid little title.

Can I save King Louis XVI?

Will my knowledge of French history improve?

Why did the executioner get offered the job when he clearly suffers from narcolepsy?

Let’s find out.

"The king clearly models his hairstyle after his own shoelaces"

The game spans thirty levels and the grandiose music gives a good sense of scale, there is also a nice variety of music on offer here, throughout the game I never found myself getting bored of the soundtrack as it’s quietly dramatic score fits the game perfectly.

Vive le Roi has a very striking art style which is reminiscent of the 2010 indie darling Limbo but with a beautiful oil painting style background that adds a splash of muted colour to the proceedings. I will mention that I did experience some screen-tearing during the execution scenes very occasionally but I’m not sure how many players this will affect.

The in-game HUD is suitably minimalistic, achieving the admirable job of conveying all relevant game play information and mechanics without swamping the player with tiring dialogue boxes or overlong tutorials. Controlled entirely with the left mouse button, the game gets you involved straight away, the goal is to control your silent protagonist (shouting really wouldn’t be of any help in this stealth game) through thirty levels of skulking around in shadow in order to save the king. This is achieved by avoiding guards, hiding behind boxes and praying that the portcullis doesn’t need oiling when you eventually open it.

You are marked on a 1-3 star basis for each level, each star being achieved by clearing the stage in a specified amount of clicks of the mouse which are recorded at the top-left of the screen. The king is already trapped in the guillotine at the start of each level and the rope is held by a sleeping executioner. If a guard sees you, he fires his musket into the air, startling the executioner causing him to pull the rope which kills the royal highness.

There is a strong element of trial and error in Vive le Roi but the variety in the game is quite strong with different elements being added every few levels from fireworks boxes to distract guards to knocking the guards out completely by dropping barrels on them. There is only one way to complete each level and the game all comes down to very careful timing.

Because the levels can be completed so swiftly, it is very replayable and does make you want to achieve the three-star rating for each mission once you get the knack of each stage. The scene that always plays out when you are caught by guards is so charming that I found myself enjoying it even after the fortieth time, it’s also very brief and the game restarts instantly, keeping the action moving at a very solid pace

"It’s always the same, out for a quiet evening walk and royalty being beheaded left, right and centre."

Summary:

Vive le Roi’s strengths lie in its charm and challenge. I understand that the fact that it’s a mobile port may put some people off, but for under £3, this is a great puzzle game to occupy your time.

For the record, that executioner must be REALLY tired, possibly the only man who has ever fallen asleep mid-beheading, his CV must have been very persuasive!